The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-04-27
Side-SaddIes.

The use of side-saddles is said to have
been commenced in England about the
year 1888, In the reign of Richard III.
Before and up to that time ladies were
accustomed to ride on horseback in the
same position as men.
have never tried tie experiment of
riding on a side-saddle, but it seems to
me that it is at least doubtful whether
any improvement was effected by the
introduction of these saddles into Eng
land, and, therefore, L may, perhaps,
be permitted to bring under the con-
sideration of your readers the question
as to whether it might not be advisable
to abandon the use OF them, and to
adopt the mode of riding on horseback
which was III vogue previous to the
period above referred to.
A rider on de-saddle is obliged to
advance the left shoulder in order to
sit square" and this turning round of
the head and shoulders to the right,
while the legs remain on the left side
OF the saddle, brings the body into
spiral or twisted form. Spinal COM
pla nts, arising probably from various
causes, are very common among wom-
en-; and to remain for long time in
the position alluded to may tend to in
crease the number of cases which occur.
Severe injuries sometimes ensue from
q rider being thrown above the crutch,
or pommel, and then coming down on
the upper part of it, and occasionally
from the pommel being forced into the
chest of the rider, if the horse fall on
his near, or left side. An accident
Af h IoA ~ he. Il
in Paris in April. 1882, to a pro-
fessional circus-rider, Mile. Emile
Loisset. A new horse which she had
been trying in the circus having re-
fused to leap an artificial fence or bar
rier, turned round to regain the stable,
but finding the door of it closed reared
and fell, causing the pommel of the
saddle to enter the chest of the rider.
1t is stated that doctors were soon in
attendance, but only to pronounce
Mile. Loisset's case hopeless. The un
fortunate young lady expired after
some thirty hours terrible suffering"
The skirts of the habits are often
caught on the crutch, or pommel, if
riders are thrown, and tho latter are
then liable TO be dragged along the
ground. There are always many riders,
also, who are inexperienced or un-
skillful, and who lean the greater part
of their weight on the stirrup, thus
pressing down the saddles on one side,
and causing sore backs to the horses.
l believe that there is large number
of horsewomen who are convinced that
some advantages would result from the
use of side-saddles being discontinued,
although they hesitate to carry it into
practice, in consequence of the dislike
that it may be supposed many of them
have to the idea OF appearing on horse
back in a style which would be re-
garded as being a novel one in the
present day. This dislike would prob
ably be diminished if it were to become
more known to the general public,
through the medium of your columns,
that the wish referred to exists. For
riding on cross-saddle the riding cos
tune would, of course, have to be al
tered. A dress rather resembling that
worn by ladies at gymnasiums might
be the most suitable. Some practice
at riding-school should also be gone
through before venturing on the road.
The Queen.